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Laurie assented, gri ish in his efforts not to do so

"He has a class of young men on Sundays," continued the hostess--"(Another biscuit, Maud darling?)--whom he tries to interest in all modern movements He thinks it so important"

Mr Jamieson cleared his throat in a virile manner

"Just so," he said; "exactly so"

"And so I told him he must really come and meet Mr Vincent I can't think why he is so late; but he has so many calls upon his time, that I am sure I wonder--"

"Mr Vincent," announced the footure of a man came forward into the room, dressed in much better taste than Laurie somehow had expected, and not at all like the type of an insane dissenting minister in broadcloth which he had feared Instead, it was a biga little, inclined to stoutness, with a full curly beard tinged with grey, rather overhung brows, and a high forehead, fro to retreat He was in a well-cut frock-coat and dark trousers, with the collar of the period and a dark tie

Lady Laura was in a flutter of welco hi refreshood of you," she said; "too good of you, with all your engageentlemen are most anxious Mrs Stapleton of course you know And you will just sit and talk to uslike friendswon't you No, no! no formal speech at alljust a feordsand you will allow us to ask you questions"

And so on

Meanwhile Laurie observed the high-priest carefully and narrowly, and was quite unable to see any of the unpleasant qualities he had expected He sat easily, without self-consciousness or arrogance or unpleasant humility He had a pair of pleasant, shrewd, and rather kind eyes; and his voice, when he said a word or two in answer to Lady Laura's volubility, was of that resonant softness that is always a delight to hear In fact, his whole bearing and personality was that of a rather exceptional average ht be, or a retired lawyer--a family ht to their fulfill character of his own

Laurie hardly knehether he was pleased or disappointed He would al eyes, in a cloak; yet he would have been secretly amused and contemptuous at such a man